In this series we’ll take a fresh look at resources and how they are used. We’ll go beyond natural resources like air and water to look at how efficiency in raw materials can boost the bottom line and help the environment. We’ll also examine the circular economy and design for reuse — with an eye toward honoring those resources we do have.

While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they can sure help. Through this series, we’ll explore how initiatives like curbside compost pick-up, rebates on compost bins, and efficient appliances can help families reduce their impact without breaking the bank.

Despite decades -- centuries even -- of global efforts, slavery can still be found not just on the high seas, but around the world and throughout various supply chains. Through this series on forced labor, sponsored by C&A Foundation, we’ll explore many different types of bonded and forced labor and highlight industries where this practice is alive and well today.

In this series we examine how companies should respond to national controversy like police violence and the BLM movement to best support employees and how can companies work to improve equality by increasing diversity in their ranks directly.

Compost is often considered a panacea for the United States’ tremendous food waste problem. Indeed, composting is a much better option than putting spoiled food in a garbage can destined for a landfill.

One of the most cited reasons for choosing to live in an urban environment is “walkability.” A walkable city gives residents the ability to get around on foot and provides places to walk to, like shopping areas, transit stops and schools. A compact, walkable neighborhood encourages healthier lifestyles, protects the environment and saves energy by reducing our dependence on cars. Furthermore, they create a sense of community and generate stakeholder involvement around community related initiatives. Not only does living in a walkable community make personal economic sense, but it makes economic sense on a larger scale as well. In the current housing slump, homes located in walkable communities are more likely to hold their value and may even appreciate once the recession ends. These benefits and economic indicators prompt the question, would you pay more for walkability? If so, do the costs justify the benefits?

A key principle of smart growth is the development of walkable communities, but another goal is to make homes in metropolitan regions affordable and accessible to jobs and essential services. Families in search of their piece of the American Dream increasingly must drive farther and farther into the exurbs to find homes with mortgages they can afford. A report released on August 18th shows that home buyers are paying more for homes in neighborhoods where you can get around without wheels. The study, conducted by CEOs for Cities, explores the connection between home values and walkability, as measured by the Walk Score algorithm. The report looked at 94,000 real-estate transactions in 15 markets across the country. Researchers found that in 13 of the markets, housing values were higher in more walkable neighborhoods. Data showed these “walkable” community houses commanded $4,000 to $34,000 more than those in communities with average walkability. According to research from Walk Score’s Board Director Christopher Leinberger, each additional point on the Walkscore scale may translate to $1,000 to $3,000 more per square foot of housing value. To evaluate this “walkability” factor, researchers developed the Walk Score algorithm, which measures the number of typical consumer destinations within walking distance of a house, with scores ranging from 0 (car dependent) to 100 (most walkable). For home values, researchers used an economic technique called hedonic regression, which estimates how much market value home buyers implicitly attach to houses with higher Walk Scores. The study controlled for other factors that also influence housing value, like size and age of residence, income level and access to employment.

The findings of the study are important for many reasons. According to CEOs for Cities head Carol Coletta, “These findings…tell us that if urban leaders are intentional about developing and redeveloping their cities to make them more walkable, it will not only enhance the local tax base but will also contribute to individual wealth by increasing the value of what is, for most people, their biggest asset.” Other important benefits are also associated with improved walkability. Economically, walkable communities reduce transportation costs, increase local business activity, employment and improve accessibility. Socially, living in a walkable community increases exercise, helps preserve cultural resources and reduces external transportation costs like crash risk and pollution. Environmentally, a walkable community reduces the land needed for roads and parking, promotes preservation of open spaces and reduces energy consumption and pollution emissions.

Walkability is not the sole reason for picking a place to live and it doesn’t guarantee affordability or appreciation, but there is no doubt that gas prices, a recession and the housing crunch have slowed migration to the suburbs. The migration back to America’s largest cities is reversing a decade long trend. This study included data gathered from 2006 through 2008 and during this time, housing prices peaked and then declined. Further research would need to be conducted to fully assess how the collapse of the housing bubble affected the market value attached to walkability and housing prices between the end of 2008 and into 2009. There is no doubt that a better understanding and greater appreciation of the full benefits of walkability could change planning priorities for the better.

Cory Vanderpool joined EnOcean Alliance as the Business Development Director for North America. Prior to this role, she was Executive Director of GreenLink Alliance, a non profit organization dedicated to promoting energy conservation in buildings and tax incentives for building owners. Before establishing GreenLink, Cory worked in business development supporting a government contracting firm focused on civilian and defense markets. In addition to her work at EnOcean, Cory is also pursuing her PhD in Environmental Policy at George Mason University and is a part-time contributing writer at Triple Pundit.

Luca- I totally agree with you that there are many lessons to be learned from Europe as they are much farther ahead than the United States with respect to things like transportation, walkable cities and embracing nuclear. The difference is that the cities in Italy were established centuries ago when town centers had to rely on walking as there were relatively limited options for transportation. The United States is much younger, larger and geographically spread out…connecting cities and suburbs together is a challenge.

As a planner, this is the argument everyone — EVERYONE — gives. It’s too hot for walkability, it’s too cold for walkability, it’s too windy for walkability, it’s too rainy for walkability, it’s too dry for walkability. Guess what? In good urban places, people WALK because they WANT TO WALK.

I grew up in Chicago. People walk, in the good urban locations (and even beyond), regardless of time of year. Take a gander up Michigan Avenue on any given day in December. There may be snow on the ground, there may be a wind chill, but people are walking to get from point A to point B. People actually travel in from the (unwalkable) suburbs to shop up and down the avenue. This notion that people will not walk if the ambient climate isn’t perfect is categorically false.

These neighborhoods aren’t targeted for middle class families with kids.

Usually once outside the nice “walkable” neighborhoods in our nations largest cities we find the public schools are horrible & dangerous, the crime is bad, the infrastrucure is crumbling, and all the good white and blue collar jobs have been driven away by heavy handed anti-growth anti-free market “progressive” policies that drove the middle class to the burbs in the first place.

We are going inside the bubble to find out what really happened…This home was bought with this money…was the realtor stupid?…no she got a commission…was the mortgage broker stupid?…no…he made a commission…was the bank stupid?…no because Wall Street investors bought the loans…Were the investors stupid?…No…because the Government bailed them out with the tax payer’s money…Was the government stupid?…no because the Feds are buying up the toxic assets to save the banks by having the Treasury print more money…Hey look here comes a customer to deposit his paycheck at our bank…You must be stupid to continue doing business with us…Why do I have a French accent…because you are stupid!!!

US cities were actually quite normal and walkable up until the car explosion of the 50s and dismantling of trolly and train lines. Some areas are still “time capsules” of the old walkability — such as NYC and much of urban Chicago. Really it has little to do with the size of the country — it has much more to do with subsidizing sprawl through giveaways to homeowners, and a protected and coddled auto industry and gas prices capped with military imperialism.